PUTRAJAYA: Newly appointed Chief Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has pledged to fiercely defend the independence of the judiciary, describing it as the very foundation of a just and democratic society.
In his inaugural policy speech yesterday, Wan Ahmad Farid said the courts must remain a trusted forum for impartial dispute resolution, especially when other avenues fail.
He stressed that the judiciary cannot afford to waver in its duty to remain neutral and independent, regardless of political or public pressure.
“When all avenues of recourse are closed, the people and even the government will look to the courts.
“Let us not fail them,” he told an audience of judges, legal officers, and dignitaries at the Palace of Justice here today.
Wan Ahmad Farid said the role of chief justice was not about privilege or personal glory, but a sacred responsibility rooted in public trust.
Recalling the principle of taklif(a burden of accountability), Wan Ahmad Farid said it was a reminder that judges must remain committed to their duty without fear or favour.
The top judge also announced several key reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice.
These include reducing case backlogs, strengthening public access to courts, and adapting the judiciary to rapid technological changes.
Among the initiatives include circuit judges and judicial commissioners who will be assigned across the country to hear long-pending cases.
He said this is intended to ease the caseload burden on existing judges and help accelerate the disposal of matters that have dragged on for years.
“The judiciary will expand its mobile court programme which currently operating in Sabah and Sarawak to the peninsula.
“The initiative, which brings court services directly to remote communities, has proven effective in handling minor cases and civil documentation on the ground.
“More specialised divisions of the High Court will be explored, especially in Kuala Lumpur,” he said, adding that there is a need to develop judicial expertise in complex legal areas and to maintain the strength of the Commercial Division to ensure investor confidence.
Wan Ahmad Farid said the judiciary will also revive the circuit sittings of the Federal Court and Court of Appeal across Peninsular Malaysia.
He said this move will allow litigants and lawyers outside the Klang Valley better access to apex court proceedings.
He also emphasised that the judiciary must stay ahead of technological shifts.
“Judges need to embrace fast-paced technological developments, which is the epicentre of the human experience today.
“Covid-19 had accelerated the use of technology in businesses and in our daily lives, and consequently in courts around the world.
“The adoption of technology in our courts will continue, as it enhances the efficiency of the court system and allows better access to justice.
“We will ensure that our judges are sufficiently equipped not only to use technology in courts, but also to manage issues relating to technology,” he said.
Wan Ahmad Farid also extended an invitation to stakeholders including the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Malaysian Bar, and legal bodies in Sabah and Sarawak to walk alongside the judiciary in charting the nation’s legal future.
“The independence of the judiciary must be protected at all costs.
“Let our message echo not just through the halls of the Palace of Justice, but across every corridor of power in this country,” he added.
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